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Author
Topic: I Finally Got Some Trazodone (Read 12430 times)

Today I saw my GP and we discussed my sleep issues. She agreed to give me some Trazodone at last! I am looking forward to trying it and seeing if it helps me have more restful nights. I am hopeful because I've heard good comments about it on here. I know it is actually an older anti-depressant (not an ssri thank god) but it is mostly used today for sleep. The pharmacist at cvs actually told me they don't make the name brand anymore, so I got the generic. She said to make sure I allow 8 hours if I am going to take it. It says to take it with food, so not sure how I will do that at night because I have to take my atripla on an empty stomach. Maybe a light snack will do.

How long before bed should I take it? Being a non-ssri, hoping it doesn't have the nasty sexual side effects some of them have, so hopefully I won't have to worry about my penis going awol lol. She only gave me a 30 day supply, so hoping it works for me. Any risk of tolerance issues with it?

Thanks jg, I am hopeful, I've heard super reviews about Traz on here! I'm just glad I have something to help me sleep when I need it, and not have to worry about Ambien/Lunesta, definately will avoid those like the plague! I'll probably have to get some refills if works as well as I'm hoping! Any sexual side effects from it?

I've taken Ambien and Lunesta with no issue, but they are not intended and never were as far as I know for chronic sleep issues. Or at least that was the case when they first came on the market. I'm sure some doctors write scripts for that. I used to take them on trans-Atlantic flights when I needed enough sleep to function once the plane landed.

Thanks jg, I am hopeful, I've heard super reviews about Traz on here! I'm just glad I have something to help me sleep when I need it, and not have to worry about Ambien/Lunesta, definately will avoid those like the plague! I'll probably have to get some refills if works as well as I'm hoping! Any sexual side effects from it?

Trazodone is not known to have any sexual side effects except for possible prolonged erections that Im aware of . I think you indicated in other threads you were in need of an antidepressant . Please keep in mind that there is no one pill thats right for all people scenario when it comes to treating anxiety and depression . At some point you are going to have to take a leap of faith and try a medication for awhile to see if its right for you . You seem very worried about sexual side effects , don't be . If by chance you have a side effect of any sort it will only be short lived and you will be no less off had you not tried anything at all .

If the doctors offer you treatment , chill out , relax and try it . It couldn't possibly be any worse than the anxiety you are having already .

Im just trying to be honest with you so please don't misread my tone , you are doing the right thing reaching out for help .

I like it. It just causes eye dryness and constipation with me. Now that I've been diagnosed with HIV I have had to up my dosage to sleep through the night. I don't notice it doing anything for me as far as an AD. I do notice some dizziness with it. Before I was diagnosed I would only take 1/4 of a pill to sleep through the night otherwise I would feel tired the next day.

How long before bed should I take it? Any risk of tolerance issues with it?

I take 100mg approx 15 minutes before I intend to fall asleep, it hits me pretty fast and does an amazing job getting me under (which was my problem). I've been on it for 4 or 5 years, and the same dose still works excellent for me. I am "allowed" to take 200mg but have never had to go up to that.

I think you will do well and be very pleased with it. Congrats and Sleep tight!

I take 100mg approx 15 minutes before I intend to fall asleep, it hits me pretty fast and does an amazing job getting me under (which was my problem). I've been on it for 4 or 5 years, and the same dose still works excellent for me. I am "allowed" to take 200mg but have never had to go up to that.

I think you will do well and be very pleased with it. Congrats and Sleep tight!

-Will

WillyWump, my issue also has been falling asleep and dayum that Trazodone don't mess around, I was out like a light on it and I just sliced the 50 mg in half to start and it worked on me. Do you have to take yours every night or only as needed? My doc didn't write me any refills, but if this round keeps working for me, I will definately ask for some! I am also considering changing regimens so maybe I won't need the Trazodone ultimately!

WillyWump, my issue also has been falling asleep and dayum that Trazodone don't mess around, I was out like a light on it and I just sliced the 50 mg in half to start and it worked on me. Do you have to take yours every night or only as needed? My doc didn't write me any refills, but if this round keeps working for me, I will definately ask for some! I am also considering changing regimens so maybe I won't need the Trazodone ultimately!

Isnt it great! its like getting hit over the head with a shovel but without the pain.

I was talking to a friend the other day and his sister in law takes trazodone twice a day . I suppose she has developed a tolerance for it because I would be a zombie if I took it during the day .

Its a long story that I wont go into that keeps my on Atripla but if not for trazodone I was only sleeping well about 2 or 3 times a week and the lack of sleep played havoc with my life , I always had a fear of planning anything because I never knew if I was going to feel rested enough to enjoy it .

Trazodone is a great thing it has been a lifesaver for me! I am probably going to be starting a new PI regimen and ditching my NNRTI regimen which I suspect has fucked my sleep up to begin with. I noticed they have a slight chemical smell to them in the bottle but hell I don't care because they sure do the job!

What I am currently wrestling with is whether to in fact ditch my NNRTI Atripla which has worked well for me in every way other than sleep issues, to try an unknown PI regimen, in hopes that I might not need the Trazodone eventually, or just stick with the Atripla and use the Trazodone for sleep. That's what I have to decide before my next appointment. I'm leaning to ditching Atripla and trying a PI. Trazodone is amazing!

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

I'd been taking klonipin for anxiety and sleep issues but thanks to this thread got my psych doctor to give me a trazedone scrip! I liked the quality of sleep i got with the klonipin but was apprehensive about taking it nightly since it's habit forming and all that. hopefully i like the trazedone

Hey texan, glad you got some traz. It has really helped me! In fact it has been a lifesaver helping me good restful sleep again. And you're right, unlike klono and some benzos or ambien it isn't habit forming. It has to be one of the best meds ever invented! I have been using it as needed and it has restored my peace of mind at nighttime!

ive just been taking half of a pill (.25 mgs) but i feel distinctly hung over the day after i take it? when i take a whole pill, my head is pounding the whole next day. i definitely falla sleep quickly but...is this normal? its also brought back some of my sleep walking problems.

I took Mirtazapine (Remeron) for years and it works well for sleep and depression, but it eventually makes most people gain weight, and not just a little weight. At the time I had HIV wasting issues so the weight gain was welcomed, but eventually it just never stopped. I could literally eat half of an entire apple pie for dessert, after a massive meal.

I need to sort something out with sleep, as I've avoided the issue for years not wanting to take a pill for it and since I don't work it doesn't matter so much as long as I schedule any appointments for afternoons, but I must admit it's become frustrating not being able to sleep until 4 AM and then waking up at 9 or 10 AM. It's just not enough sleep so then I end up napping for an hour around 6 PM and the cycle never stops. It's hard just to go see a movie because I fall asleep half of the time.

ive just been taking half of a pill (.25 mgs) but i feel distinctly hung over the day after i take it? when i take a whole pill, my head is pounding the whole next day. i definitely falla sleep quickly but...is this normal? its also brought back some of my sleep walking problems.

Hmmm. I've never had these issues on Traz.

If these are occuring I would talk to your doctor about switching to something else. Like Rod says, dont give up just because one doesn't work for you.

Ive done some research and apparently most sleeping pills are used to treat sleepwalking but can also cause it. Isn't that funny? I sleepwalk so rarely i didnt even mention it to my psych doctor since i was mainly focusing on my anxiety keeping me from sleeping. I definitely freaked out the guy I just started seeing the other night when he woke up to me wandering around his apartment babbling incoherently...

I have some Trazadone in my cupboard and may give it another try this weekend. I don't have problems getting to sleep, it's staying asleep that is my problem. Plus I've done some weird things in my sleep, like burning my arm, which required Silvadene cream, waking up with my leg all scratched up, and a few nights ago I woke up, sitting straight up, with my legs over the side of the bed. I have no idea how these things happen and my doctor told me without someone being here to verify, it's hard to say if I'm walking in my sleep.

So anyway, I may give the Traz another try.

Logged

I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

Betina, have you tried taking Intermezzo? It's a new medication for people who specifically wake up in mid-sleep. It was just FDA approved in the past year.

No I haven't tried it Ms. P, but have seen the ads. I would have to ask my doctor about that one. He's hesitant to prescribe meds that act like Ambien, Lunesta etc due to my addiction issues. I've just read that Intermezzo is kind of in the same class as those. I did try Rozerem but it didn't work.

I really would like something to take long term since I don't see this insomnia going away any time soon. At least while menopause is happening.

Ms P, have you run the gauntlet of sleep meds? What you experience sounds awful, and similar to what was happening to me when I took Isentress. Is there anything (besides Remeron) that you can use?

Logged

I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

Ms P, have you run the gauntlet of sleep meds? What you experience sounds awful, and similar to what was happening to me when I took Isentress. Is there anything (besides Remeron) that you can use?

Actually if you're referring to that period of nightmares I was having a month or two ago that all suddenly stopped. I still have insomnia issues at times but I think that's more "me" than the medication. By that I mean when I go home to visit my parents and am not so much on a computer or using my smartphone it's less of an issue (still there, but cut by half let's say) and I can get to sleep at a decent hour. So that's why I still hesitate to take a sleep med, but may end up going that route eventually anyway.

Trazodone is great as well if you need to reestablish your sleeping pattern again. I had a hard time sleeping after having gone from a graveayard shift to a regular shift and used Trazodone to correct my sleeping times. The only catch as has been mentioned, is that you can grow tolerant to it. In addition if you quit cold turkey you can have a rebound effect. I ended up tapering my doses each night by cutting them into even smaller pieces each time. Was fine within two weeks and without the need for anymore Trazodone.

I've been on Trazadone for years. It has helped me sleep soundly enough to where I can ACTUALLY remember dreams that I have. Before Trazadone I had sleeping problems. Eventhough the med is NOT an antidepressant it functions similar to meds for seizures and brain activity stabilizers.

I've been on Trazadone for years. It has helped me sleep soundly enough to where I can ACTUALLY remember dreams that I have. Before Trazadone I had sleeping problems. Eventhough the med is NOT an antidepressant it functions similar to meds for seizures and brain activity stabilizers.

Welcome to the forums . Trazodone is an antidepressant other than that I agree it is a great drug for many of us that need it .

I no longer take Trazodone I found out I had a bad reaction to it it made me really sick but what helps me a lot now for sleep is good old Melatonin from the drug store, about 3-6mg per night, the extended release is good and has no side effects that I notice. My doctor approves of it. And also I take Mirtazipine for sleep it really is a miracle and doesn't make me physically sick like Trazodone did.

I no longer take Trazodone I found out I had a bad reaction to it it made me really sick but what helps me a lot now for sleep is good old Melatonin from the drug store, about 3-6mg per night, the extended release is good and has no side effects that I notice. My doctor approves of it. And also I take Mirtazipine for sleep it really is a miracle and doesn't make me physically sick like Trazodone did.

Hi RobbyR , Nice to meet you

Sorry you had a bad issue with Trazadone , I've been taking it for 10 years now . With every drug change I have hoped that I could sleep naturally , but I do not . Last week I went three days with out Trazadone , on the forth night I went to sleep at 9:30 O'Clock PM and was wide awake at midnight So I am back taking 150 mg and it works well . JohnBoy2015 , Nice to meet you too I agree , dreams are wonderful and I remember most of them It's a nice side effect .

Hi BT65 I used to have night frights ; similar to sleep walking , I have not had an episode in many many years Thank GOD ! They were very creepy .